Chapter 997 - 743: I Will Definitely Bring You Back (Part 2)
And below, the once calm sea surface suddenly erupted into countless roaring waves, surging into hundred-meter-high billows, swallowing a solitary island whole, as if the apocalypse had arrived!
Shen Tang was almost blown away by the sudden gusts, while Lu Xiao swiftly changed course and caught her steadily.
At the same time, during his flight, a formless energy barrier enveloped both him and Shen Tang, shielding them from the torrential rain and hail, forming a spherical closed space.
"Scared me to death!" Shen Tang patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief, unable to stop her heart from racing.
Lu Xiao asked gently, "Are you okay?"
Shen Tang gently wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her face against his feathers, and nuzzled, "I’m fine, be careful!"
Lu Xiao nodded slightly, slowing his flying speed a bit, drifting up and down in the storm, but with the energy barrier’s protection, flying over the sea area wasn’t much of an issue.
Once he was familiar with the air currents, Lu Xiao’s flight soon returned to its usual stability.
Meanwhile, Shen Tang closed her eyes, sinking her spiritual consciousness into the sea of her mind, seeing the faint blue energy baryte.
Transparent, faint blue, so pure.
Upon seeing this energy baryte, Shen Tang’s heart couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow.
Within the baryte was concentrated all the remaining power of Jia Lan; he had given all his power to her, and Shen Tang had always been reluctant to use it, so the baryte was much unchanged from before.
Shen Tang’s spirit body lightly placed her palm on the baryte, sensing that familiar power, her mind almost envisioning his youthful form.
She seemed to embrace him once more.
Shen Tang murmured:
"Ah Lan... I miss you so much..."
Unfortunately, she received no response.
The only solace Shen Tang found was that the baryte seemed to still hold a trace of Jia Lan’s soul fluctuation; though faint, it was there, not disappeared.
This was the only consolation Shen Tang could receive now.
Shen Tang softly promised, "Don’t worry, Ah Lan, I will definitely help you reclaim your body..."
Jia Lan had become this way because of her.
She would absolutely find him back.
[Host, what do you plan to do?]
The system wished to comfort its host but seeing the current situation, it seemed to find little hope, [Even if we know Liu Ye’s whereabouts, truly reclaiming the body won’t be easy, especially since this is his territory, we seem to have little advantage.]
Shen Tang had thought this through before coming, "Fighting in the sea area indeed leaves us at a disadvantage, so I plan to lure him out, then constrain him."
The system curiously asked, [Are you sure Liu Ye will appear, host?]
"I’m his significant threat, he will definitely show up; when he can’t hold back anymore, that’s when he’ll personally try to kill me."
Shen Tang looked toward the distant, dark, rolling sea area, her lips curling into a faint, bitter smile, "If I’m correct, when I just stepped into this sea, he should have sensed it and will soon act."
Liu Ye, having learned from last time, might not show up so quickly this time, but he can’t hold back for long.
As long as she can lure him from the sea area, she’ll immediately constrain him, using spiritual power to attack.
Liu Ye had one fatal flaw - he wasn’t a complete soul, but a fragment of independent spiritual consciousness, having merely half a soul at best.
Thus, compared to his mighty strength, his soul consciousness was extremely fragile.
If she could find a chance, she’d attack his consciousness when he’s weak, and place the energy baryte into Liu Ye’s body.
This was Shen Tang’s plan coming here.
Shen Tang couldn’t fully guarantee awakening Jia Lan, but it’s the only opportunity; if Jia Lan’s thread of soul had a strong will to survive, he might reclaim his body.
It’s quite risky, but she had to do it, even if there’s just a glimmer of hope.
Knowing Liu Ye was hiding here meant she had to risk trying.
The system cheered her on, [Go, host, I’ll definitely help you!]
Shen Tang’s spirit body kept her palm on the energy baryte, carefully sensing the flow of energy.
If Liu Ye could sense her existence through Jia Lan’s energy, she’d naturally be able to sense his location through the same energy!
Suddenly, Shen Tang sensed something, her eyes snapping open, "Right nearby, I sensed his energy fluctuation!"
But just as she spoke, the sea surface suddenly exploded!
Countless dark shadows surged from the deep sea, aiming straight at them!
Lu Xiao sharply elevated his form, narrowly avoiding the first wave of impact.
Shen Tang looked down, her pupils suddenly constricting—
It was Sea Beast.
Dense mutated Sea Beasts of various shapes and terrifying appearances, each enormously large, like floating buildings on the sea surface, exuding a terrifying strong pressure.
Massive fish covered in hard scales, opening huge maws revealing three rows of sharp teeth.
Deformed octopuses with tentacles stretching dozens of meters, each tentacle tip bearing vicious hooks.
And a large flock of creatures shaped like bats, yet pitch black all over, emerging from beneath the sea, emitting piercing screeches.
The moment they appeared, the gale and downpour intensified, black clouds pressing down with countless thundering bolts, forcing Lu Xiao to lower his flight path.
Below, the seawater churned even more violently, deep waters boiling furiously, raising monstrous waves!
The eyes of those Sea Beasts shone with eerie red light, staring dead at the two in the sky, madly charging toward them.
Lu Xiao fiercely flapped his wings, unleashing countless golden Wind Blades, slicing the front few Sea Beasts into pieces.
The scent of blood immediately spread, yet it failed to deter the other Sea Beasts, driving them even crazier.
As if under orders of death, they charged without regard, relentless, fatal.
Shen Tang waved her hand, releasing dozens of Ice Blades, cutting off several octopus tentacles lunging from the sides.
The severed tentacles still twitched and writhed, their stumps spewing dark blood, emitting a pungent stench.
"Too many!" she gritted out.
Lu Xiao’s body suddenly stiffened, his breath growing heavier, with subtle hesitations in his wing movements.
Shen Tang immediately sensed something was wrong, "What’s the matter?"
Lu Xiao didn’t answer, but his breath became noticeably heavier, his wing flaps growing erratic.
Shen Tang’s heart tightened sharply, "Ah Xiao? Is it Return Nest..."
"I’m fine," Lu Xiao’s voice squeezed from his throat, with marked suppression, "I can hold on."